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medical doctor or therapist/psychologist first?

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 11/4/2009 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
So I have finally decided to see a doctor after a massive long-lasting panic attack last night. I keep convincing myself that I have a more serious mental illness or a brain tumor or something seriously wrong with me and that I'm confusing it with anxiety, when its probably the other way around. Everything is fear, fear, fear, and then alot of dizziness and weakness. I've been fine recently talking myself down and doing CBT and whatnot, but last night was awful. I honestly didn't know if I was going to be okay. Anyways it ended up passing, I went to bed, woke up several times, but still overslept, and have decided to make my first appointment about this. My question is should I go to a medical doctor first to have tests ran and be sure it's not something more serious than anxiety or if I should skip the doctor, save some money, and go see a therapist and see if they think I need to get some medical attention at a hospital.

Thanks so much

Lots of love
Posted 11/4/2009 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
Well when my anxiety first appeared I first went to my family doctor to get some medication to help control my anxiety, then went to meet with a therapist. Hope that helps.
Posted 11/4/2009 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Well, it wouldn't hurt to have a blood work up at your docs to get tested for things that can cause anxiety, like thyroid conditions and certain vitamin deficiencies. Also, some people get anxiety from heart conditions. Once that's ruled out I would personally recommend a psychiatrist if you want to start long term meds like SSRIs. If you're looking for Xanax or something along those lines I think a general doc is fine. When I first started having PA I went to the general doc and he prescribed Buspar, which was totally wrong for me. I felt that he didn't have enough experience with those types of drugs to prescribe something for me. There are so many kids out there these day. If you don't want to go the drug route, a psychologist would be fine for counseling. They can't prescribe drugs, but they will be able to teach you relaxation exercises and other ways to cope. Good luck with everything. You will get through it.
Posted 11/5/2009 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for the responses! I am going to make a doctors appointment tomorrow at a local family medical center. I'm not big on getting on meds but if I have to to get better then I will. I now have another question. Do people actually get over their anxiety? Do they become "cured" and get over it forever? I know Charles Linden claims that he did and I've talked to people who said that they have gotten over it but for some reason I'm not convinced. I'm not totally convinced this is just anxiety either though because I keep getting really faint and dizzy like I'm about to pass out. I'm just not sure if I'm supposed to be feeling this with anxiety. All I know is I am so scared. [img]/community/emoticons/sad.gif[/img] So I am going to get help and I've decided to start with a medical doctor to get blood tests and whatnot, then see how it goes from there. But anyways do people overcome anxiety for good? I just want to stop worrying that I'm not going to make it, and I don't want to go to the ER or anything because I don't want them to just be like oh, it's anxiety. Anyways I'm interested to hear your answers! Thank you so much!


Much love
Posted 11/5/2009 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like a good plan and I wish you the best of luck!
Posted 11/5/2009 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think people are really cured of their anxiety, but I do think that they can learn to control it, instead of it controlling them. Thats what happened in my case. Hope that helps some, and ask any questions you might have, we will be glad to help.

Hugs!
Posted 11/6/2009 5:56 AM (GMT 0)
So my first doctors appointment is tomorrow at 8:30am! I've been dealing with this for two months and the past two or three days have been unbareable, so I decided to finally just call my old doctor instead of searching for a new one. The reason I was looking for another doctor is because I still see my peditrician since I'm only a little over 18. I trust him so much though and I know I can get in quickly and am very comfortable with him. So I'm going to go in, tell he and the nurse my symptoms, see what happens and then see if he can refer me to possibly a therapist and a new doctor for adults. :) it's going to be kind of tough and sad because he has pretty much always been my doctor since I was born(except when we moved to Virginia for a while) but I know it'll be for the best and am looking forward to getting to
know a new doctor! :) well for those want to know how it goes I'll probably post tmrw morning after my appointment!

Also a terrible tragedy happened here in Texas today and my
prayers go out to all of those involved!

God bless
Posted 11/6/2009 12:07 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Paige,

I am sure you are referring to the Fort Hood shooting and you are so right, what a terrible tragedy and so senseless. My prayers go out to the families and all of the people in the community as I know how this horrible event affects so many.

Last year my physician of 24 years decided to give up his practice and go back to school so I had to pick a new physician for my primary care. It was really hard but one of those things that I had no control over other then to work with my long term physician in helping me choose someone whom I woud most likely work well with.

I did choose a new physician and I am still in the honeymoon stage with her but so far things seem to be going well.

I am glad you are seeing your physician today and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt
Posted 11/6/2009 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much Kitt!

My doctors appointment went well! I told them my symptoms without telling them that I think I have an anxiety problem to see what they would say, and they came back and told me they believe I have an anxiety disorder. My doctor told me that they needed to draw my blood to check my thyroid glands and to see if I'm anemic just to be safe. I have appointment to go back to discuss my results and to talk about medications and other solutions and about referals Tuesday at 9:30.(It's gonna seem like an eternity lol) I feel so much better after being there today though! I have been really dizzy the past few days and am still dizzy today but feel alot better definitely! I suppose just the support and encouragement of my doctor helped me feel better about what's going on.



Much Love
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